Lt. James among finalists to be interviewed for Southborough police chief

Monday

Jan 13, 2014 at 1:17 PMJan 13, 2014 at 1:17 PM

By Brad PetrishenDaily News Staff

SOUTHBOROUGH – Southborough Lt. Sean James, who was put back into the running for police chief after outcry over his exclusion from a pivotal test, is one of three finalists for the job to be interviewed tonight.James will have an interview with selectmen at 7:15 Monday evening, according to the agenda. At 6:30 p.m., selectmen will interview Richard Bates, a lieutenant with the Worcester Police Department. At 8, they will interview Kenneth Paulhus, a captain with the Woonsocket, R.I., Police Department.Selectmen Chairman Daniel Kolenda said the board will not make its decision this evening. He said it plans to meet again on Thursday night to appoint a chief.James, a 12-year department veteran, received an outpouring of support from many in town after he was ruled out of a daylong test that was to be held in December to determine finalists.That test, called an “assessment center,” was to have five candidates, however when one dropped out a few days before, the town’s Police Chief Search Committee reinstated James.A day after James was reinstated, the professional company that was to conduct the test, BadgeQuest, dropped out of the process, citing philosophical differences. The town hired a new company and conducted an assessment center on Jan. 3.Two Zoning Board of Appeals members and several residents have criticized selectmen over what happened, alleging the board didn’t want an inside candidate and exerted undue influence over the search committee.Selectmen have said those allegations are false.